Overcoming Unwanted Intrusive Thoughts: A CBT-Based Guide to Getting Over Frightening, Obsessive, or Disturbing Thoughts

by Sally M. Winston PsyD

Worried Voice: Every day I take the train to work, and every day I have the thought that I could push someone under the train. What does it mean about me that I have such bad thoughts? Maybe my unconscious mind will make me do it. False Comfort: Tell yourself that you would never do anything violent. Don’t let those thoughts take over. Distract yourself, and think about something else. Pray for relief. Worried Voice: I try, but I keep on having the thoughts. Here False Comfort is trying hard to reassure Worried Voice and offers coping skills to handle the disturbing thoughts. While coping skills might provide temporary relief, they don’t work for long. Unfortunately, they both believe this myth, that such thoughts are meaningful bits of the unconscious mind and require a response. Another example of this myth is believing that thoughts of doubt are messages, signals, or warnings from the wiser more perceptive unconscious. Some of you may be plagued by doubts about a decision and then believe it means that you made a mistake, and therefore, there is some important issue you need to address. This myth suggests that a doubting thought is a message from your unconscious that repeats itself because it is telling you to reconsider what you did or what you plan to do.